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The Sezon Museum of Contemporary Art was established in 1981 in Karuizawa as a "living art museum" that focuses on "contemporary art" and serves as a venue for various experimental creations of the same era. The museum is located in the forests of Karuizawa, and its theme is "Art Breathing," an art museum that coexists in harmony with nature.

Exhibitions include collection and special exhibitions of contemporary art from Japan and abroad. The museum's collection focuses on prewar European art, American abstract expressionism, and postwar Japanese contemporary art, including works by Paul Klee, Man Ray, Mark Rothko, Andy Warhol, Shusaku Arakawa, and Natsuyuki Nakanishi, while special exhibitions introduce works by contemporary artists.
The museum's architecture was designed by Kiyonori Kikutake, and the museum garden is a circular tour of outdoor sculptures while listening to the murmuring of the river, the basic concept of which was conceived by sculptor Haku Wakabayashi. Visitors can also enjoy Mt. Asama in the distance and seasonal flowers and plants. Also recommended is Café Porcupine, where visitors can enjoy dishes made with locally grown organic seasonal ingredients and original roasted coffee, along with their favorite book.

The Mechanism of Meaning: Shusaku Arakawa and Madeline Gins